by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Backstage with Amada, Backstage with New York Broadway Tours, Blog, Broadway, Broadway Audience, Festivals & Events, New York City Broadway Tours, News, Shows, Times Square Theatre District
If you enjoyed our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN last month, there is more showstopping Broadway favorites coming up. As many of you know within the next 39 DAYS, it’s ready gonna be Thanksgiving as we ring in the holiday season. You know what that means?!!!
LET’S HAVE A PARADE!!! November 25th, 2021 will be Thanksgiving Morning where we get to wake up to celebrating New York’s legendary MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. We of course are talking about The 2021
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year’s parade promises to be spectacular as it will be the first parade in 2 years to have spectators in-person. In case anyone may not know, last year’s event was cancelled for experiencing LIVE IN PERSON due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was done as a combination of a pre-recorded and live event on
NBC and
CBS without the crowds and not that many participants.
With the world starting to make its way back to normal, this year’s edition promises to make up for all that lost time. The parade will include all of its notable moments including…..
The Giant Balloons,
Spectacular Floats,
High Energy Clowns,
Spectacular Marching Bands,
Santa Claus,
some of the biggest names in show business (Film, TV, and Music),
and
so much more.
However, the big highlighted moment when its comes to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for us is……. THE BROADWAY PERFORMANCES!!! If you’ve seen the NBC telecasts, they are performed in front of the Macy’s store in Herald Square on 34th Street. Meanwhile the CBS telecast features the performances pre-recorded on location somewhere in NYC or at their Broadway Theater.
With the Broadway acts, we are pleased to announce beginning October 26th, 2021 on the 30 DAY mark…. we at New York Broadway Tours will be presenting our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN.
Every morning leading to the parade, we will be sharing with you our favorite showstopping performances from Broadway’s biggest night of the year from both previous NBC and CBS telecasts of the parade. It will feature many of your favorite shows. Get ready to sing along, share your reactions, and excitement. We also will be giving some fun facts about the history of many of these unforgettable Musicals we all love.
The Parade will air traditionally both on NBC (in front of that famous Macy’s Store in Herald Square on 34th Street) and on CBS (live from Times Square).
Let’s celebrate the return of coming together once more and of course Broadway being back!!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT CAN HE DO, MY DEAR. TO CATCH YOUR EAR?!! HE LOVES HER MADLY, MADLY MADAME LIBRARIAN….. MARIAN!!!! Award winning versatile stage and screen star
Hugh Jackman is preparing to head back to the Great Bright Way this Fall in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. Earlier last week on social media, the
X-Men,
OKLAHOMA!, The Boy From Oz,
Les Miserables, and
Greatest Showman shared a video of appreciation for his leading lady in the upcoming revival herself 2 time Tony winner
Sutton Foster in support of her new book HOOKED: HOW CRAFTING SAVED MY LIFE out now!!
For those who may not know, Foster’s book HOOKED is part memoir and guidebook. It follows the versatile stage and screen star as she shares personal, funny, and intimate stories along with reflecting how crafting has kept her sane while getting through the highs and lows of family, love, and show business. Along with the personal stories, it will also have some fun TO-DO tutorials including crochet patterns, recipes, and so much more.
Born in Georgia and grew up in Michigan, Foster has a huge love for performing. Along the way with trying to make it, she experienced many personal experiences from bullying, a fraught relationship with her agoraphobic mother; her painful divorce from
Christian Borle that made the tabloids, how she found love again with Ted Griffin, her struggles with fertility, her happiness with her adoptive daughter Emily, and the thrills she found throughout her show biz career consisting of her legendary performances on Broadway (including
Thoroughly Modern Millie,
Little Women,
The Drowsy Chaperone,
Young Frankenstein,
Shrek the Musical,
Anything Goes, and Violet) and on TV (during both Bunheads and Younger). Throughout all those experiences, Foster was able to keep her happiness with the magic of a cross stitch needle and her unbelievable craft skills.
After 2 delays, Tony winners Jerry Zaks and Warren Carlyle’s new revival of THE MUSIC MAN will finally march its way into Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. Previews will begin December 20th, 2021 and the official Opening Night is scheduled for February 10th, 2022.
by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
Discover the story behind an intense kidnapping as
Lucas Hnath‘s one woman play
Dana H. opens on Broadway TONIGHT at the Lyceum Theatre!!! The play (starring Deirdre O’Connell) is part of the ongoing rotational lineup of Off Broadway’s
Vineyard Theatre repertory THE LYCEUM PLAYS series.
Break a leg to Deirdre, the crew, and creative team!!!
Happy Opening DANA H!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
ALL I WANTED WAS THE DREAM…. and now its come true. Today marks the 18th Anniversary of the Broadway debut one one of the most critically acclaimed shows that has still earned a huge cult following with fans everywhere….. THE BOY FROM OZ.
For anyone who may not know, the story tells the story about the rise & fame of acclaimed flamboyant Australian singer-songwriter
Peter Allen. He was known for being the first husband to
Liza Minnelli before later became gay falling in love with partner model Gregory Connell. With a book by Nick Enright and Martin Sherman, the musical featured a full catalog of songs made famous by Peter Allen himself. Notable songs include NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR, I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME, DON’T CRY OUT LOUD, and of course….. (as seen below featuring its breakout star
Hugh Jackman and the Broadway company) the showstopping I GO TO RIO.
The show originally had its world premiere in Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney back 1998. It was a huge success before later touring the continent including Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. It ran for a complete total of 2 years and 766 performances. Under the direction of Gale Edwards, that premiere cast consisted of….
It went on to be nominated for 8
Helpmann Awards (which is considered the Australian version of the
Tonys) taking home 4 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Todd McKenney).
With the success of the Australian run, THE BOY FROM OZ began to expand in trying to get the show to go International. That first place since its premiere….. our New York City backyard.
THE BOY FROM OZ made its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre in the Fall of 2003 at the Imperial Theatre. The production ran for a year long run of 32 previews and 365 performances. With an updated book and new direction by Philip William McKinley, the cast was led by…..
Hugh Jackman in a breakout Broadway debut as “Peter Allen”,
Tony winner Jarrod Emick as “Greg Connell”,
Mitchel David Federan as “Young Peter”,
The reviews were mixed but the cast earned critical praise especially for Hugh Jackman. Despite running for a year, the show was still able to have recouped its investment of $8.25 million after closing.
It also would go on to be nominated for 5 Tony Awards in 2004 including BEST MUSICAL. It took home only 1 for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Hugh Jackman – who also ironically was hosting the Tonys at the same time). The show would also get a glory at the
Drama Desk winning 2 for OUTSTANDING LEADING and FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Jackman and Fowler). They also received 3 special HONOREES at the
Theatre World Awards (for Jackman, Keating, and Federan).
2 years after the Broadway production closed, THE BOY FROM OZ made its way back to Australia with an ARENA TOUR production. Under the direction of
Kenny Ortega, this spectacular arena staging was led by…..
Hugh Jackman reprising his Tony winning Broadway performance of “Peter Allen” for his hometown crowd,
Angela Toohey reprising her Australian performance as “Liza Minnelli”
Chrissy Amphlett reprising her Australian performance as “Judy Garland”,
Murray Bartlett reprising his Australia performance as “Greg Connell”,
Colleen Hewett as “Marion Woolnough”,
Shardyn Fahey-Leigh as “Young Peter”,
It later returned to Australia in 2010 with a brand new production featuring Todd McKenney reprising his OG performance as “Peter Allen”.
THE BOY FROM OZ was also performed in Peru and in Perth.
The licensing for the show is owned by
David Spicer Productions. It has been performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
HAPPY 18 YEARS THE BOY FROM OZ ON BROADWAY!!!
Any fans of THE BOY FROM OZ out there?!!!
How spectacular was that number?!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GET READY CAUSE HERE THEY COME!!!! After 19 1/2 month dark, the Tony Award winning smash hit
Ain’t Too Proud is back. It’s totally not JUST YOUR IMAGINATION indeed…. the hit musical about the rise and fame of The
Temptations reopens tonight at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre.
It makes us on CLOUD 9 to see this toe-tapping smash hit back on stage where it belongs!!!
Along with the show reopening on the Great Bright Way tonight, AIN’T TOO PROUD is set to finally launch its North American National Tour this Holiday season in a city near you.
Break a leg to the cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
WELCOME BACK AIN’T TOO PROUD!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
ON THE MARQUEE: For the past few weeks since reopening on Broadway, long running Green Girl
Jennifer DiNoia has been back once again playing “Elphaba” every night in
WICKED. The actress (currently serving as the standby once again) has been filling in for current leading lady
Lindsay Pearce who has been out of the show these last few weeks due to a foot injury.
Filling in for DiNoia as the standby (and now once again being a temporary fulltime leading lady) is another returning cast member
Alyssa Fox (previously seen on Broadway as the standby for “Elsa” in Disney’s
Frozen).
With Pearce is continuing to recover, DiNoia will once again now be playing the smart, fiery, misunderstood, and not-so Wicked Witch of the West herself fulltime all month long. With that in mind, an update has been made outside the show’s front of house billboard of the Gershwin Theatre featuring DiNoia’s photo as “Elphaba”.
Lindsay Pearce is expecting to return to the cast in November.
Jennifer DiNoia is one of WICKED’s longest running and legendary Green Girls. She has played the role on 4 CONTINENTS. She has performed this role on and off for the last 14 YEARS!!! Her journey with the
Stephen Schwartz musical began in 2007 as part of the Chicago company initially being the Dance Captain which she later got plucked from being emergency cover to standby for the role of “Elphaba” where she played the role for about 1,500 performances covering for
Dee Roscioli and Lisa Brescia.
Since the Chicago company closed in 2009, DiNoia immediately got plucked to serving as the standby for “Elphaba” in the New York production marking it her Broadway debut covering once again for Dee Roscioli along with
Mandy Gonzalez, and
Teal Wicks. A few months into her first stint standing by there, DiNoia went on to serve as an Emergency standby for
Jemma Rix in the show’s Australian company out in Sydney for a month. She returned to the Broadway production afterwards where she continued to DEFY GRAVITY as the standby till 2011.
After a year away, DiNoia returned to THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ in 2012 joining the Asian Touring Company of WICKED serving as the first ever “Elphaba” alternate going on twice a week. During that time, she shared the role once again with Jemma Rix.
Immediately after a Summer in Asia, DiNoia returned to the Broadway production serving as a temporary filling in for
Donna Vivino as the standby a month…..who at the time was covering for
Jackie Burns.
Finally in 2013, DiNoia was offered and landed the role of “Elphaba” fulltime. She succeeded Christine Dwyer in the role on the 2nd (and on-going) Munchkinland Touring company for a whole year.
A year after the tour in 2014 (with Laurel Harris taking over), DiNoia went back AGAIN to the Broadway production as a temporary standby for Christine Dwyer in the role….. and also filling in before future Tony nominee
Lilli Cooper joined as the standby.
Immediately afterwards, DiNoia got the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime offer to go join
Wicked‘s London production replacing
Kerry Ellis as “Elphaba” fulltime for a 5 month run. This milestone marked her it her West End debut. Along with it being her 4th Continent, DiNoia’s stint in London marked becoming the 2nd American actress to join the London company after the musical’s original Tony winning star
Idina Menzel.
Right after returning overseas to the United States in February 2015, DiNoia jumped into the Emerald City 1st National Tour of WICKED replacing Emma Hunton fulltime as “Elphaba” where she stayed till the company’s closing after 10 years on the road.
After the 1st National Tour closed, DiNoia went back to the Broadway company as a temporary principal while Caroline Bowman was recovering from an injury. She shared this temporary run for 3 weeks alongside Christine Dwyer.
Finally in the Summer of 2016 and after having a baby girl, Jennifer DiNoia replaced
Rachel Tucker as “Elphaba” full time on Broadway for a whole year. She stayed till Summer of 2017 where she was replaced by another fellow long running Green Girl
Jackie Burns.
DiNoia recently rejoined the Broadway production in 2019 till at the time when Broadway was shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the show returned, she’s still going it. As the standby during this stint, she has been covering for BOTH Hannah Corneau and now Lindsay Pearce.
Congrats Jennifer DiNoia!!!
Get well Lindsay Pearce!!!
Isn’t Jennifer DiNoia such a WICKED legend?!!!
How THRILLIFYING is that?
Any Jennifer DiNoia fans out there?!!!
